weinheim



E. WEINHEIM.

MANUFACTURE OF SUBSTITUTE HlDE LEATHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. 1918.

1 306,649. Patented June 10, 1919.

2 SHEETS*SHEET1.

IN VEN TOR. [mil Wmizez'ziz BY /aw/ his ATTORNEY E. WEINHEIM.MANUFACTURE OF SUBSTITUTE HIDE LEATHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. 1918.

1 ,306,649. Patented June 10, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR. 117m! lfiu'zzh @1222 ATTORNEY.

EHIL WEINHEIH, OBJN'EW YORK, N. Y.

MANUFACTURE 01! sunsn'ru'm Ema-warm Specification of Letter-l Patent.Patented June 10, 1919,

Application filed Kay 20, 1918. Serial 1T0. 285,445.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I EMIL WEINHEIM, a citizenof the United tates, and a resident of New York city, county and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in theManufacture of Substitute Hide-Leather, set forth in the followingspecification.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for deeplyimpregnating, by a continuous operation, a strip of textile fabric.

It applies particularl to the impregnating of such a strip with aeatherfying dope, that is, with a dope capable of converting the fabricinto substitute leather, and also referably int-o substitute hideleather. n this latter connection the invention is particularlyapplicable to converting a strip of nontenacious fabric such as cottonbatting into substitute hide leather.

Broadly it is my object to provide a suitable process and apparatus formaking a substitute hide leather solely out of an artificial fabric anda leatherfying dope, with the dope completely permeating the entirecross section of the finished product, in contradistinction to merelyforming a coating thereon.

A. further object of the invention is to make possible the uniformapplication of leatherfying dope to the surface of a moving strip offabric having little tensile strength. To this end I propose first toapply the dope to an endless carrier moving in contact with the movingstrip and to apply heavy pressure and heat through the endless carrierto the layer of dope and the strip of fabric moving in contacttherewith. By this arrangement of endless carrier I also'propose toregulate the temperature of the same at different localities so as toeffect the spreading of the dope and the cleaning off of any undesiredadhering dope in the most efficient manner. In practising the inventionI propose to use a pair of adjustably spaced steam-heated compressionrollers or drums, one or both of which is each enveloped by an endlessapron of impervious material, prefera'bly sheet zinc. 'I prefer to,-apply' the leatherfying dope to the moving apron at a locality'where thesame is relatively cool and to the outer surface of the said apron. Theobject of this is to improve the distribution of the a plied dope andpartially to congeal the sur ace of the applied layer next to thesurface of the apron in order to facilitate the clearlng of theimpregnated stripof textile fabric from the apron after,the dope has 4been forced into the body of said strlp.

It is further an object of my invention to effect a further congealingof the surface of the impregnated strip immediately after the initialimpregnation. It is a further object to continue the forcing of the dopeinto the body of the strip after the initial surface congealing, anadvantage being the ready employment of pressure between surfaces towhich the congealed surfaces of the treated strip do not so readilyadhere or, in other words, more readily free themselves in thecontinuous practice of my process, an essential feature of which is itscontinuousness, that is, so that a strip of untreated batting enters myapparatus and leaves the same substantially a finished substitute hideleather.

The above and further objects and features of my invention will betterbe understood by reference to the illustrative embodiment of m apparatusshown in the accompanying rawmgs, which form a part hereof, in whichlike characters designate corresponding parts in the several figures,and to which drawings the following specication is directed. Both thedrawings and tive of the invention, to which the claims are directed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation, partly invertical section and partly in elevation, of an apparatus for practisingmy invention; Fig. 2 1s a similar view of a modification for effectinginitial steps in thepraotice of my process with the strip movinvertically; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view t rough line IIIIII of Fig.2, with parts shown in plan.

In the most complete form of my apparatus shown, five groups ofapparatus A, B, C, D and E are embodied. The group A is mechanism forfeeding a strip 1 of cotton batt preferably as it is delivered from astandard batting or garnetting machine. An endless apron 2, moving inthe direction of the arrows, preferably terminates about a heated,suitably driven drum 3, and from the apron 2 a strip 1 slides over asmooth surface table 4, from which it feeds directly into the dopeimpregnating apparatus fol- \elops the drum 6 and is carried rearwardlyover an idler 9, which may be adjustable to adjust the tension in theapron 8. trough 10 in fluid communication with one or more tanks 11overlies the apron 8 and contains a suitable leatherfying dope 12,preferably such as has been described in my Patent No. 1,263,171,granted Apr. 16, 1918. The discharge mouth of the trough 10 ispreferably controllable by the valve 13 to regulate the delivery of thedope 12 upon the outer surface of the apron 8. A doctor blade 14, whichmay be of any suitable commercial construction and mounting, serves tospread the dope 12 over the outer surface of the apron 8 uniformly at alocality where the apron is relativel cool and flat. scraper 15 is alsopreferably provided for cleaning the outer surface of the apron 8 afterthe dope has been pressed into the batt 1. A sponger or wiper 16 mayalso be provided for cleaning the apron 8. This sponger may comprise afelt roll rolling in contact with the apron 8 and also in contact with afeeder roll 17 working in a trough 18 of suitable cleaning fluid such asalcohol. A second scraper 19 is also preferably provided at a localitynear where the apron 8 leaves the batt 1.

A similar apron 20 envelops the upper drum 5 and is held suitably tensedby an adjustable idler 21. A dope applying tank 22 serves to distributea controllable layer of dope upon the outer surface of the apron 20, thecontrol being effected by the valve 23. A suitable doctor blade 24 aidsthe dis trihution of the dope. This apron may also be provided withcleaners in the form of one or more scrapers 25 and 26, and a sponger27.

The group C also comprises a pair of adjustable steam-heated compressionrollers 28 and 29, enveloped respectively by endless aprons 30 and 31.It is preferable that apron 30 be arranged similarly to the previouslydescribeda-pron 20 and has a cooperating dope tank 32,, corresponding tothe tank 22. Both the aprons 30 and 31 may likewise be provided withcleaners and the apron 30 has a doctor blade 33. The apron 31 extendsrearwardly to serve as a carrier for the batt 1, which is preferablyexposed at the locality 34 where both surfaces may be acted upon by dryconditioned air. It is preferable that the upper surface be left exposedalso throughout theextent of the upper lap of the a mu 31 and besubjected to a blast of cool ry conditioned air, preferably blown from aperforated blower pipe 35. After passing from between the heatedcompression rollers 28 and 29 the fabric progresses upon an endlessapron 36, which is associated with a cooperating apron 37, in connectionwith heated compression rollers 38 and 39, which may be exactly similarto the corresponding parts of the group (J. In fact, all the elements ofgroup D are intended to be duplications of those of group C, the dopetank 40 being the same as the dope tank 32.

After passing from between the compression rollers 38 and 39, thefabric, which has progressively been compressed, is carried by an apron41 in associatlon with compression rollers 42 and 43 outwardly to anyapparatus suitable for completing the curing or storage of the fabric.

As is the case with all the compression rollers, those of group E arepreferably micrometrically adjustable in their separation and aresuitably heated.

As has been set forth previously, the dope 12 in tank 11 is a bodyfilling dope and preferably that described in my Patent No. 1,263,171,or a suitable dope may be compounded as follows:

20 pounds nitro-cellulose, in alcohol solution li-pounds color pigment,and 3% pounds oil (preferably castor oil).

The dope in tank 22 is preferably of the same character so that the dopeapplied by the apron 8 penetrates the fabric 1 from the nether surfaceand the dope applied by the apron 20 penetrates the fabric from itsupper surface, the objective being to effect a deep enough penetrationfrom both sides to cause a meeting and a mingling of the twoimpregnations in the interior of the fabric. v

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 the upper surface of the fabric 1 isintended to be the finished side or that which simulates the hair sideof the substitute hide leather. A partial congealing of the body fillingdope is effected between the group B and the group G along the uppersurface of the fabric 1. This renders the fabric in condition for theapplication of a preliminary surface dope from tank 32, which is appliedby the apron 30. A suitable composition for this dope is preferablymedium in consistency, as against the soft body filling dope. A suitablecomposition may be compounded as follows:

21 pounds of nitro-cellulose in alcohol solution, 1% pounds colorpigment, and 2;} pounds oil (preferably castor oil).

This preliminary surface coating is con gealed by the conditioned airblower 44 intermediate groups G and D so that the surface of' fabric 1is ready for the application of a hard surface finishing do e from tank40, to be applied by the apron 3 A suitable composition for this hardfinishing dope is as follows:

23 pounds nitro-cellulose in alcohol solution, 1% pounds color pigment,and 1;} pounds oil (preferably casor oil).

7 After receiving the finishing surface coating from apron 37 the fabricis carried over aprons 41 through the final compression rolls 42 and 43,which effect the final reduction in thickness.

The preliminary impregnation to be accomplished by group B in theapparatus of Fig. 1 may be modified, if desired.. Figs. 2 and 3illustrate a suitable modification in which the process is conductedwith a downward vertical movement of the textile fabric 1. In thismodification a suitable endless carrier 50, at its delivery end workingover a' steam-heated drum 51, delivers the fabric 1 in a downwarddirection between a pair of horizontal micrometrically adjustable heatedcompression rollers 52 and 53, enveloped respectively by the endlesssheet metal aprons 54 and 55, the upper laps 56 and 57 of whichpreferably incline upwardly approximately 45, the far loops of which arecarried over suitable adjustable idlers 58 and 59, it being understoodthat suitable driving 4 mechanism for these rollers and aprons isprovided. Two separated vertically posi: tioned partitions 60 and 61 arearranged at right angles to the downwardly directed strip 1 and, in asense, straddle the width of said strip. These partitions may becrossstayed in a suitable manner as by bridge pieces 62 and 63,arranged-parallel to the upper laps 56 and 57 of the aprons 54 and 55.These end partitions are shaped along their edges to fit the profilecontour of the upper surfaces of the aprons 56 and 57, and toethertherewith to form a tank for containmg any suitable impregnating dope'64. After passing downwardly between the rollers 52 and 53 the fabric 1partially compressed, may be drawn through suitable power drivensteam-heated rollers 65 and 66,

which preferably have a well-known mi-' crometer adjustment. From theserollers the treated fabric may be conveyed by the conveyer 67 toapparatus for further treatment, as for example to apparatus representedby groups C, D and E- of Fig. 1.

The endless aprons 54 and 55 are convensient for the application ofsuitable cleaners such as the scrapers 7.0 and 71 and spongers 72 and73, so that each apron may be effectively cleaned and be in the propercondidition to receive a coating of dope 64, which is carried down andpressed into the fabric ,1. Likewise the fabric 1,pa ssing through thedope 64 between the partitions 60 and 61,

receives an initial impregnation before passing between the rollers 52and 53. A decided wedging action takes place so that, within the body ofthe do 0 64, a circulation somewhat asrepresente by the arrows 74 and. 75, takes place. v

The provision of the endless aprons in combination with the heatedcompression rollers is important, particularly becausethe application ofdope directly to a heated compression roller is unsatisfactory, partlybecause it is impracticable to maintain different temperatures fordifferent progressive localities on a compression roller. However, bythe use of the endless metallic apron the distantly extending loop ofthe apron may be maintained at any desirable cool temperature, whilethat part of the apron actually serving to force dope into the fabricmay be at the desired high temperature. The extensive surface of theapron also facilitates the application and working of suitable cleaningdevices which could not have sufiicient space to accomplishtheirfunctioning against a roller itself.

What is claimed and what is desired to be secured by United StatesLetters Patent is 1. Apparatus for impregnating a textile fabric in acontinuous process comprising a pair of opposed compression rollers;oneor two endless sheet-metal aprons each enveloping one of said rollersand passing between the said rollers; a second guide roller for eachsaid apron for operatively .holding each said apron extended at adistance from its enveloped compression roller; means for applying afabric impregnating dope to the outer surface of oneofsaid aprons to theexclusion of its inner surface; means for feeding a strip of fabricagainst roller; an endless impervious apron looped about said roller andhaving a substantially flat portion out of contact withsaid roller;

means for treating the outer surface of saidapron apart from said rollerin connection with the therefrom of means for feeding a strip of saidfabric against said outer surface of said apron.

3. In apparatus for impregnating a textile fabric in a continuousprocess, a driven roller; an endless impervious apron looped about saidroller and having a substantially flat portion out of contact with saidroller; means for applying a covering of fabric imapplication thereto orremoval abric impregnating dope; and

pregnating dope to the outer surface of saidleatherfying dope to a stripof fabric comprising, a heated drum; an endless apron looped about saiddrum; means for holding a portion ofz'said apron away from said drumwherebylls aid apron maybe continuously heated-and cooled; and "meansfor May, 1918.

covering the outer surface of said apron to with said dope.

6. The process of manufacturing substitute hide leather comprisingcontinuously forcing a leatherfying do e inwardly and substantiallysimultaneous y from the oppo- 26 site surfaces of a strip of'mattedfibers in a confined space and under the influence of heat; thenexposing both said surfaces to the action of cool conditioned air toeffect partial surface-congealing; and again sub- 80'j Jecting saidstrip to heat and pressure in a confined space to continue thepenetration of said dope after its surfaces have become less adhesive bythe said congealing.

In testimony whereof I have slgned my :5 name to this specification,this 14th day of EMIL WEINHEIM.

